Variable speed transmission



06f. l, 1935. W 'p SCHMlTTER 2,016,248]

VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed March 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l4 IN VEN TOR.

Wu fME5m/az/ME BY h .mlilll l ew t' A TTORN E YS.

Oct. 1,1935. w.I P. scHMlTTER VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTUR.

Filed March 25, 1933 l/I/'AL myfmrma- BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 PATENT oFFIcE VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Walter P. Schmitter, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Falk Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 25, 1933, serial No. 662,692

6 Claims.

transmissions of the adhesion type, wherein the power is transmitted from a driving to a driven disk through interposed rollers in contact therewith, and wherein the speed relation between the disks is determined by the angular relation between the roller and disk axes.

Transmissions of this type are commonly equipped with torque responsive devices intended to produce the required contact pressures between the rollers and disks in such manner as to proportion those pressures to the load requirements and therebyv avoid heavy duty contact pressures except when required. As heretofore arranged such devices function satisfactorily when the torque changes are relatively slow or gradual, but when the torque is suddenly increased they fail to increase the contact pressures with suiiicient promptness to prevent slippage between the disks and rollers. This is a common cause Iof premature wear and sometimes serious damage to the contact surfaces.

One object of the present invention is the provision in a power transmission of the character ymentioned of torque responsive means which will invariably function to increase the contact pressures before the corresponding increase in torque load reaches the contact surfaces. In the transmission hereinafter described, this is accomplished by an arrangement which will delay the transmission of a torque increase to the contact surfaces and thereby afford ample time in which to effect the required increase in pressure between those surfaces before the increased torque reaches them.

Another object is the provision of torque responsive pressure regulating means which will invariably function to provide the required changes in contact pressure, regardless of whether the torque iuctuations enter the transmission from the driving or driven end. ThisI accomplish by the use of two pressure producing devices at the opposite ends of the transmission and so related that each may function satisfactorily without interference by the other. In the transmission hereinafter described, one of such devices is designed and arranged to regulate the contact pressures in accordance with those relatively slow torque changes which ordinarily originate 'in the driver, while the other is preferably arranged and designed to regulate the contact pressures in accordance with those relatively rapid or shock-like torque uctuations which ordinarily originate in the driven mechanism.

Another object is the provision in a transmis- (Cl. 'I4-200) This invention relates tovariable speed power sion of the character mentioned of a novel combination and arrangement of parts for equalizing the contact pressures between the several rollers and disks in an improved manner.

Another object is the provision of a novel combination and arrangement of parts by which the contact pressures and consequent end thrust loads are sustained in an improved manner by the active parts of the-transmission. This arrangement avoids the necessity of employing a heavy duty casing and results in a transmission unit of relatively light weight.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a variable speed trans/mission constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 .is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Figs. 3 and 4 are front and side elevations, respectively, of the driving disk, illustrating particularly the pressure producing cam surfaces.

In the power transmission mechanism shown, a drive shaft I0 is journalled in the forward endsection II of a two-part housing, and a driven shaft I2 is journalled in the rear end-section I3 of the housing. The housing sections are separably joined by appropriate means, such as bolts I4 which pass through abutting anges I5 on the housing sections.

The drive shaft 'I0 supports both the driving and driven disks I6 and I'I and also serves to sustain the contact pressures between the disks and interposed rollers I8.

In this instance the driving disk I6 is rotatably fitted on one end of a sleeve I9, pressed onto a reduced portion 20 of the drive shaft I0; and the driven disk I'I is mounted upon a swivel type antifriction bearing 2|, fixed to the other end of the sleeve I9 by appropriate means, such as a nut 22.

The rollers I8 are confined by and between concentric toric raceways I6 and I'I, formed in the opposed faces of the disks 4lli and I1, and rotate about their individual axes, whichare adjustably fixed preferably in a manner to be hereinafter described. 'Ihe arrangement is such that individual rotation imparted to the rollers I8 by rotation of the disk I6 causes rotation of the disk I1 in a direction opposite to that of the disk I6 and at'a relative rate regulatable by adjustment of the roller axes.

The disk I6 is driven from the shaft Ill through mechanism designed to impose an axial pressure on the disk in proportion to the torque l transmitted from the shaft. In this instance the mechanism for this purpose comprises a disk 23, keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft III and engaged with a thrust collar 24-on the shaft; together with a series of thrust transmitting balls 25, preferably three in number, interposed between the disks 23 and I6. The balls 25 are confined between sinuous cam surfaces 26, formed on the opposed faces of the disks, and radially retained by a ring 21 surrounding them. The cam surfaces 26 are .preferably transversely curved to match the' balls and thus provide line contact therewith.

The arrangement is such that under no-load condition, each of the balls 25 assumes a position f betweenlow portions of the opposed cam surfaces 26, and when a torque is transmitted to the disk 23, tending to rotate that disk relative to disk I6, the balls react against the inclined portions of the cam surfaces, thereby passing the disk I6 axially against the rollers I8 and also urging the disk I6 to rotate. The balls 25 and` cam surfaces 26 thus coact to perform the dual function of transmitting the torque from one disk to the other and of imposing an axial thrust upon the disk I6, thereby producing the required contact pressures between that disk and the rollers I8. f

The axial thrust produced by the balls 25 and cam surfaces 26 is transmitted through the disk I 6 and rollers I8 to the disk I1, thereby producing the required contact pressures between the disk I1 and rollers I8.

In the transmission shown, the hub 28 ofthe disk I1 bears against the outer race ring 29 of a thrust sustaining ball bearing 30 whose inner race ring 3I is mounted upon the hub 372` of a disk 33 to which reference will again be made hereinafter. A thrust producing mechanism, like that hereinabove described and including three balls 25 confined between cam surfaces 26', is interposed between the disk 33 and a disk 34. The disk 34 is centered relative toV the disk 33 preferablyby a tube 35, which extends from the disk 33 and upon which the disk 34 is rotatably and rockably mounted. The disk 34 bears againstthe outer race ring 36 of a thrust sustaining ball bearing 31 whose inner race ring 38 is carried by a thrust collar 39, removably fixed to the inner end of the shaft I0 by appropriate means such as a nut 40.

It will thus be noted that the thrust reactions, resulting from the contact pressures between the disks I6 and I1 and interposed rollers I8, are sustained by the shaft III, independently of the casing, the thrust reaction from disk I6 being transmitted to the thrust collar 24 onthe shaft through the balls 25 and disk 23, and the thrust reaction from the disk I1 being transmitted to the thrust collar 39 on the shaft through-the bearing 30, disk 33, balls 25",'disk 34, andbearing 31. With the casing thus relieved of the axial thrust loads, it may be of lighter construction than would otherwise be the disks 33 and 34, so that the elements last named react to increase the contact pressures between the disks I6 and I1 and rollers I8 in of the disk 34.

response to lsudden increases in torque load on -the driven shaft I2.

hubs 28 and 32 of the disks I1 and 33, and a grld- 1 5 like member having resilient limbs 43 engaged within aligned grooves 44 formed in the peripheries of the rings 4I and 42.

The driving connections between the disk I1 and shaft I2 also include a coupling of a well 20 known'type of which the disk 34 forms a part.

kThe coupling shown comprises a series of lugs 45 projecting from the disk 34 and intermeshed with a series of lugs 46 on a disk 41 keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft I2. This coupling 25 provides a positive driving connection between the disk 34 and shaft I2 and at the same time permits a slight radial displacement and tilting of the disk 34 relative to the shaft I2, that portion III of Athe drive shaft III being reduced to 30 provide the flexibility necessary for such action This floating condition of the disk 34, together with the rockability of the disk I1 upon its bearing 2I, assures an equalization of the contact pressures between the rollers I8 35 and disk I1, and consequently between the rollers I8 and disk I6, resulting from the axial thrusts imposed on those disks.

The inclination of the cam surfaces 26 on the 'disks l23 and I6 is such that the contact pres- 40 sures between the rollers I8 and disks I6 and I1 normally respond tothe torque transmitted through the drive shaft I0 and normally vary in accordance with variations in .such torque. Those torque fluctuations, which originate in the 45 driver and are transmitted through the shaft I,` are ordinarily rather slow or gradual, so that there is little danger of the rollers I8 and disks I6 and I1 being exposed' to torque increases, originating from that source, before the pressure 50 contacts therebetween are adequately increased by the automatic action of the balls 25 and cam surfaces 26. In any event the building up of torque reactions between the rollers I8 anddisks I6 and I1 is delayed by* the yieldability of the 55 resilient coupling to which the disk I1 is connected, so that ample time is afforded in which to build up the contact pressures in anticipation of the increased torque.

The bauszs' and cam. surfaces 2s" on the 60 f disks 33 and 34 normally respond only to torque fluctuations which originatelin the driven mechanism and which are transmittedv through the shaft I2. Such fluctuations are usually much faster or sharper than those that originate in 65 the driver. For that reason the inclination of the cam surfaces 26' is preferably somewhat steeper than the cam surfaces 26, so that the balls 26 ordinarily remain within the low portions of the cam surfaces 26' except when sub- 70 jected to sudden fluctuations transmitted from the shaft I2. Q

The rollers I8 may be mounted and controlled in any known or approved manner. In this instance the rollers are supported and confirmed 75 I8' and I'I in the disks I6 and I 'I. Each roller is individually controlled by a floating tongue or link48 which is supported at one end by the roller and at its other end by a rotary element 49.

. Each roller I8 is shown journalled within the inner bifurcated end 50 of the link 48, so that the axis of rotation of the roller is xed with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the link and preferably forms a right angle therewith.

The outer end of each link is lconnected to the element 49, at al point eccentrically thereof, through an appropriate universal joint, such `as a ball and socket connection 5 I, so that the link and roller are free to turn about the longitudinal axis of the link and also free to tilt in response to rotation of the element.

Each element 49 is, in this instance, carried by a shaft 52, jdurnalled in an appropriate bushing 53, which is confined between `the two halves 54--54 of -a split bearing hub provided on the casing sections II and I3. Each shaft 52 and its element 49 are preferably disposed to rotate about to the axis of rotation of the element 49, and

this angularity is in such direction that the link axis extends from its associated roller I8 toward that portion of the driving disk I6 which is approaching the roller. With the parts thus arranged, it has been found that, during voperation of the transmission, each roller I8 promptly responds to every rotative adjustment of its control element 49 in such manner as to substantially maintain the plane of rotation of the roller substantiallyV coincident with that plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the link 48 and the shaft 52. .That is to say,-whenever. the element 49 is rotated in one direction or the other, so as to change the inclination of that plane which passes through the axes of the link 48 and shaft 52, the associated roller I8 promptly adjustsitself until its plane of rotation is similarly inclined. Each such adjustment effects a definite change in the speed ratio between the driving and driven disks I5 and I'I.

It is of course understood that the several vcontrol elements 49 are simultaneously operated and controlled. In this instance each element 49 isl in the form of a hypoid bevel gear, and all its shaft 52, the other gears 49 being controlled by and through the common mating gear 55. Various changes may be made in the embodif ment of the Vinvention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims. s, r

I claim:

1. A power transmission comprisingV driving and driven coaxial disks, lnterposed torque trans-v mitting rollers in rolling contact therewith, torque responsive means for automatically regulating the contact pressures between said rollers and disks, and means connected in series with said last named means and said disks for delaying the 5 transmission of torque increases to said rollers and disks until said contact pressures have been correspondingly increased.

2. A power transmission comprising driving and driven coaxial disks, interposed torque transmitting rollers in rolling contact therewith, torque responsive means for automatically regulating the contact pressures'between said rollers and lisks, and resilient torque` transmitting means connected in series with said last named means and said disks for delayin'; the transmission of torque fluctuations to said rollers and disks to thereby prevent the transmission of torque increases thereto until said contact pressures have been correspondingly increased.

3. A power transmission comprising driving and driven coaxial disks, interposed torque transmitting rollers in rolling contact therewith, torque responsive means for automatically regu lating the contact pressures between said rollers and disks, said means including a torque responsive thrust producing device and thrust transmitting connections between said device and one of said disks, and resilient torque transmitting connections between said device and said last mentioned disk.

4. A power transmission comprising driving and driven coaxial disks, interposed torque transmitting lrollers in rolling contact therewith, a i torque responsive thrust producing device, thrust transmitting connections between said device and one of said disks, resilient torque transmitting connections between said device and said last mentioned disk, a second torque responsive thrust producing device, and thrust transmitting connections between said last nameddevice and the other of said disks.

5.y A power transmission comprising driving and driven coaxial disks, interposed torque trans# mitting rollers in rolling contact therewith, a shaft connected in driving relation with one of said disks, said shaft having an unsupported flexible extension, thrust mechanism interposed between the end of said shaft extension and said other disk for maintaining the required contact pressures between said rollers and disks, a second shaft and flexible means connecting said second shaftin driving relation with said last mentioned disk. f

6. A power transmission comprising driving and 5b driven coaxial disks, interposed torque transmitting rollers in rolling contact therewith, a shaft having a thrust sustaining driving connection with one of said disks, said shaft also having an unsupported yflexible extension projecting through the other of said disks, a thrust sustaining .connection between said flexible extenfsion and the last mentioned disk, a second shaft,

and\drivi nmeans including a. flexible coupling between said second shaft and said last mentioned disk.

t WALTER P. scm/JITTER. 

